My passion for the tech startup community

Recently, I was asked to share about my passion for the tech startup scene in 500 words or less, so…

I’m posting here to share my thoughts with everyone else.

When I learned there was a way to connect my loves for learning experiences, teaching, and coaching with my hobbies in technology and starting new things, I was energized and eager to get involved. My passion for the tech startup scene began over 13 years ago, when I had the luxury of using my summer to attend a series of education focused events across Chicago. It included an “iPadapoolza,” hosted at a Chicago Public School where I met reps from edtech companies for the first time, and a lunch for educators at Navy Pier where I first learned about the concept of a coding bootcamp. The more I understood the concept of Web 2.0, the more excited I was at the idea that individual people could more easily document findings from the field, track and analyze data, and instantly make adjustments. As we enter into a new world with AI supporting us - agents, language models, and partners, I continue find opportunities to be one of those pioneering change. I want to solve hard challenges with technology, and share with others so more people are empowered to solve their own problems.

Over the years, I’ve continued to be driven by Carl Sagan’s famous quote, “We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and yet have cleverly arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. That’s a clear prescription for disaster.” It is one of my missions to be one of those who attempts to understand the tools, and who is building systems and communities so that others are also able to understand. I recognize that coding and entrepreneurship are trades where individuals take on a complex craft and science by working directly with mentors and masters. This inspired me to lean in and participate in learning events and programs at 1871, mHub, 2112, 4pt0 and other spaces/communities for innovation and connection.

After almost a decade of working with business and software developers, founders, entrepreneurs, educators, leaders, investors, artists, and innovators in Chicago and beyond, I continue to be motivated to start new things with others and learn from those who are beginning. When I spend time with entrepreneurial ecosystem builders, I find my imposter syndrome fades and my courage to lead is strengthened. From personal growth and business partnerships, to institutional development and loose connections, most change doesn’t happen in isolation or solely by an individual; it happens when people are part of a community organization that supports, encourages, and enables their development.

When small groups of people work together on hard projects, amazing things can happen. If we can develop systems so that there are multiple small groups, then the magic can really happen. I want to nurture and excited others to make it happen by building frameworks and systems to enable more individuals to do it better and faster.

What I learned this month…

In 2024, I challenged myself to maintain a gratitude journal as a blog.

I started strong, posting once a day, but by September, I was lucky to post one journal entry a month. I think this about me not making and taking the time to do them. Like I often fail to make and take the time to exercise, or cook for myself. I’m not quite sure how to change this default behavior - clearly it’s a challenge of prioritizing.

Instead of doing what I say I want to do, I do what I think I “have” to do, which normal includes cleaning, prepping, paying bills, managing calendars. From my experience and learnings on coaching for change, I know that behavior is easier to change than beliefs, but when I reflect on my approach to taking on new habits, I often take an “attitude first” approach. I’m beginning to wonder if this is why/how I fail these personal goals.

To truly motivate myself to change, I need an accountability partner or authority telling me something is due on a date. When push comes to shove, I always let myself down, but try to rarely let down others. So, in 2025, I’m going to try to be that coach to myself. While I’d love to do this once a week (which was the original title of this post), I started this draft on January 26th. Weekly posts can be bonuses; monthly posts will be what I guarantee to myself.

Since the current reader data on my site shows very few people will notice, I should be good, but I’m going to make myself share these posts, and maybe even try to do a newsletter or Substack to support sharing. I’ll cross that bridge later, for now, I’m writing these to help me remember, process, practice, archive, and reflect.

Each month, I’d like to share what I learned from three or more of the following:

• music that stuck with me with link(s)

• places I visited and a pic or 2

• memorable meals

• articles/books/videos/podcasts I consumed to grow

• highlight(s) from my life

• an epic fail or something I’m struggling with - because maybe writing about it can help be to overcome it

• tv/film/entertainment/art that made me think and/or feel

I think this evolution from the gratitude journal blog will better benefit me personally and professionally. Since I’m often thinking about the things I’m learning, I am hopeful that a blog post focused on what I learned will be fun and easy to write.

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What I learned in January 2025…

• Cold and sunny is way better than warm and gray in January.

• Epic fail of starting this post and waiting until the Ides of March to post. I’m blaming it on the fake that I cannot insert markdown blocks which allow me to insert links, so I’m giving y’all some ugly links in this post.

• There was some good music released in 2024. In particular, self-titled Don’t Thank Me, Spank Me (https://open.spotify.com/album/3ugROhUf1fiqM524meOfZm?si=D4lB1JGISbCB6lcfENisKw), and Big Crown Vaults Vol. 2 by The Shacks (https://open.spotify.com/album/6aVMpJwZmdNp7b0eV0rCIZ?si=FFzDEvrHTUaHxo7ApvfOzA)

Gratitude Journal no. 28

December 31, 2025

I am thankful for…

1. Time with my parents. They’ve been part of my whole life. While there have been moments and periods of contention, most of it has been pretty nice.

2. Failing this challenge of blogging. I set out to do a gratitude journal, which is a practice that should be done for the most part, daily. Well, I do truly take moments to pause and have gratitude on a daily basis, I failed to always get onto a device and document it for a future blog post. I guess I could consider using an easier tool and batch doing it for the future. I appreciate that I didn’t quit and that there’s room for growth so that I can try more in 2025.

3. Scheduling and backdating posts. Internet lets you time travel, and pretend that things were there before they really were. It’s also fun when you schedule something so far into the future that you forgot you were kind to your future self. Anyways, I am thankful for all the times I’ve been able to get things out in the world, regardless of when.

If you’re new here

I decided to challenge myself to publish my personal writing more, starting January 2024. From pausing to deliberately reflect to getting more disciplined about creating for myself, I jumped into this goal. For a little more on this journey, check out my first public Gratitude Journal entry.

Gratitude Journal no. 25

October 7, 2024

I am thankful for…

1. Decades long relationship. School friends, work friends, former bosses, former students, cousins, siblings, neighbors, business partners, customers, conference buddies, and parents. While they don’t all last beyond a decade, the ones that do, have some special qualities. This sort of relationship momentum can form - where you trust each other enough to not feel weird to connect even when it’s been a year.

2. poetry. It’s taken me some time to acknowledge that, for me, poetry is a hobby, an art, and a therapy. Some people go shopping, I write poems. I’m grateful for recognizing its importance in my life and for leaning into for the next few decades.

3. Views, vistas, and big skies. Whenever I can catch a view of a sky bigger than what I normally see in a day, I’m taken with awe. For me, it’s comforting to be reminded how we are just a tiny part of a bigger system. If I’m having a tough time, I look up and out. Breath in and out.

If you’re new here

I decided to challenge myself to publish my personal writing more, starting January 2024. From pausing to deliberately reflect to getting more disciplined about creating for myself, I jumped into this goal. For a little more on this journey, check out my first public Gratitude Journal entry.

Gratitude Journal no. 23

August 14, 2024

I am thankful for…

1. Summer trips to forests with people who I love to places that bring me joy. Rocks, lichen, moss, ferns, creeks, trees, sand, dirt - I’ll take it.

2. Work trips to new places. I’ve truly enjoyed the opportunity to travel to teach. As someone who likes seeing new places, I’ve always felt my work travel is a gift. While it is getting harder as my little ages, I still value opportunity to work, think, reflect, and experience new places on my own. Watching the sunset by myself in Cody, Wyoming is a moment I’d like to remember because I’m grateful to have had it.

3. Learning that going to bed early is the new sleeping in. I used to sleep in. That’s not really possible for a few more years (and as I age), so going to bed early is what must be done. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life. When I do finally find a way to do it, I always thank myself the next day… or even 4 days later. Sleep is life.

If you’re new here

I decided to challenge myself to publish my personal writing more, starting January 2024. From pausing to deliberately reflect to getting more disciplined about creating for myself, I jumped into this goal. For a little more on this journey, check out my first public Gratitude Journal entry.

Gratitude Journal no. 18

May 27, 2024

I am thankful for…

1. Walking meetings.

2. Hard hikes.

3. Road trips.

If you’re new here

I decided to challenge myself to publish my personal writing more starting January 2024. From pausing to deliberately reflect to getting more disciplined about creating for myself, I jumped into this goal. For a little more on this journey, check out my first public Gratitude Journal entry.